Teaching English for Young Learners

1. Teaching English for Young Learners Katie Bain ktbain53@gmail.com elfellowkbain.wordpress.com

2. Ice Breaker • Find Someone Who • What connection do these answers have to how you teach children? • What ideas come to your mind for how you could change your teaching for young learners as you reflect on these activities?

3. Pre-Discussion Questions • What young learners do you teach? • What resources do you have for them? • What are the joys and challenges of teaching young learners? • What questions do you have about teaching young learners? • What do you want to know?

4. Attention Span: the amount of time learners are able to pay attention

5. Authentic Materials Materials used in the targe culture for actual communicative needs

6. Bins Storage boxes that contain materials for classroom use

7. Chant Words or phrases that are repeated again and again, in a rhythm

8. Classroom Library An area of the classroom where students can find books and resource material

9. Classroom Management The way in which the teacher manages the students and content of classroom learning.

10. Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) Instructional approach for grades K-8 for low and intermediate language level learners that provides authentic opportunities for use of academic language, maintains highest standards and expectations for all students, and fosters voice and identity.

11. Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) Primary language is proveded by trained, bilingual teachers, trained bilingual aides, trained parents, or cross-age/peer tutoring. Emphasizes teacher collaboration. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are integrated among all content areas with an emphasis on science, social studies, and literature.

12. Holistic Language Language treated as a whole, with integration of skills

13. Individualized learning/ Differentiated instruction Opportunities for student to interact with material at their own rate and level

14. Language Experience Approach Uses learners’ own experiences as a basis for classroom speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities. Learners dictate to the teacher or assistant, who writes down what they say. Language Experience Approach Video

15. Phonics A reading approach that teaches the written symbols which represent sounds of a language

16. Sound-symbol correspondence The relationship between the sounds of a language and the written forms of those sounds

17. Skit A short dramatization or play

18. Total Physical Response (TPR) A language teaching approach that combines language learning with physical movement, initially based on commands.

19. TPR-Storytelling (TPR-S) TPR-S adds the additional component of oral performance and the acting out of stories.

20. Transition techniques Techniques for changing from one activity to another

21. Learning Centers/Stations Areas of a classroom that are set up for learning purposes

22. Video Viewing Younger Learners (K-5)

23. Video Introduction • Try to write down the key tips given in the video

24. Video Introduction After finishing the video turn and talk to your neighbor and try to answer these questions. • What is the purpose of this activity? • Could you do this in your classroom?

25. Video Introduction • Warm, Friendly, Comfortable Room • Clear rules, routines, instructions, directions • Variety of activities with repetition • Time to move, work, have fun

26. Video Part 1 • What was the purpose of the activity? • Teaching steps (seen and unseen) • Amount of time needed • Student response: Are they having fun? Have they met the objective of the lesson?

27. Video Part 2 • Purpose of the activity • Clarity of directions • Variety of movement • Particular teaching technique

28. Video Part 3 • List the stations in the room and the different types of activities going on in them. • Notice how the chairs, tables, and rugs are arranged in the room. • Look for the teacher and describe what you see her doing.

29. Characteristics of Young Learners Social They are learning to socialize as well as learning through socializing.

30. Characteristics of Young Learners Active They need to be physically active.

31. Characteristics of Young Learners Learn through play

32. Characteristics of Young Learners Need repetition They need lots of repetition and clear directions.

33. Characteristics of Young Learners “Me” focused They are “me” focused and respond emotionally to learning activities.

34. Characteristics of Young Learners Curious They are naturally curious and usually willing to learn.

35. Characteristics of Young Learners Developing Cognitive and motor skills are still developing.

36. Characteristics of Young Learners Verbal Their verbal skills are generally more advanced than their literate skills.

37. Characteristics of Young Learners Short attention span They have a short attention span, which becomes longer as they get older.

38. Characteristics of Young Learners Formulate their own language rules They are able to formulate their own language rules from comprehensible language input.

39. Summary of Videos • Directions were simple and clear. • Students moved from one actity to another easily. • There was an element of fun, of learning through play.

40. Your Turn! • Design a lesson plan in partners or small groups that includes some of the techniques seen today. • Share your plan with the group. • I will post everyone’s plans on my blog.

41. Lesson Plan • Age and level of students • Objective of lesson • Order of activities • Explanation of what was incorporated from the presentation and why. Example: We incorporated Total Physical Response so that our students can have the opportunity to learn through movement.

42. THANK YOU! Katie Bain ktbain53@gmail.com elfellowkbain.wordpress.com

43. Source • Opp-Beckman, L., Klinghammer, S.J. (2006). Younger Learners (K-5). Shaping the Way We Teach.(121-128). Washington, D.C.: Office of English Language Programs.